The Georgia Southern Eagles were selected third in the FCS Coaches Preseason Poll and received three first-place votes, the most of any team other than first-place Eastern Washington. The Eagles, who finished with a 10-5 record, return a number of key members of their national semifinalist team.

A memorial ceremony to honor Georgia Southern golfer Thomas Sharkey has been set for Tuesday, Aug. 30, at 6:30 p.m. at Bishop Field House at Paulson Stadium. The event will celebrate his life after he was tragically killed in a fire last month in Scotland.

Five different returning Georgia Southern Eagles started at least one game at linebacker a year ago and six were in the rotation, so there are plenty of choices for the second level of defense heading into the 2011 season.